Oh, the world's a curious ...

Oh, the world's a curious compound, with its honey and its gall, With its cares and bitter crosses, but a good world after all. And a good God must have made it-leastways, that is what I say, When a hand is on my shoulder in a friendly sort of way.
 James Whitcomb Riley

Quotes from the same author

The most essential factor is persistence - the determination never to allow your energy or enthusiasm to be dampened by the discouragement that must inevitably come.
 James Whitcomb Riley
To make the world a friendly place, one must show it a friendly face.
 James Whitcomb Riley